Cave gecko – Cat Ba (Goniurosaurus catbaensis)

Short answers

Cave gecko – Cat Ba: How big does the enclosure need to be?

60×45×50 cm.

Cave gecko – Cat Ba: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 22–27 °C (COOL), basking spot No basking spot, at night 18–21 °C.

Cave gecko – Cat Ba: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: Recommended (UVB 2–5 %).

Cave gecko – Cat Ba: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: 12–18 years.

Cave gecko – Cat Ba: Is it suitable for beginners?

No – better suited to experienced keepers (difficulty: Expert).

Climate

Daytime temperature

22–27 °C (COOL)

Night temperature

18–21 °C

Basking spot

No basking spot

Humidity

70–85 %

UVB

Recommended (UVB 2–5 %)

Enclosure

Minimum size

60×45×50 cm

Substrate

Coco humus, limestone structures with crevices, leaf litter, a damp corner

Feeding

Food

House crickets, crickets, roaches

Feeding interval

2–3×/week

Key facts

Adult size

15–18 cm total length

Life expectancy

12–18 years

Origin

Vietnam – only Cát Bà

Protection status

CITES II; IUCN "Critically Endangered" – only documented captive-bred animals

Brumation

A cooler spell of 8–10 weeks

Cohabitation

Keeping them singly is the least stressful option and the safe standard; two males must never be kept together. Several females can live together given enough floor space and a hide each; drawback: lower-ranking animals are pushed away from food, so weights must be monitored. A male with one or two females only for breeding; kept permanently, he harasses the females.

Notes

An endemic of a single island, acutely threatened by collecting for the pet trade. Keep it cool and humid – room warmth above 28 °C is critical. Buy only with unbroken proof of captive breeding.

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Related species

• Bawangling leopard gecko (Goniurosaurus bawanglingensis) – Intermediate
• Cave gecko – Araneus (Goniurosaurus araneus) – Intermediate
• Cave gecko – Hainan (Goniurosaurus hainanensis) – Intermediate
• Cave gecko – Kuroiwa (Goniurosaurus kuroiwae) – Intermediate
• Cave gecko – Lichtenfelder (Goniurosaurus lichtenfelderi) – Intermediate
• Cave gecko – Lui (Goniurosaurus luii) – Intermediate
• Cave gecko – Orientalis (Goniurosaurus orientalis) – Expert
• Cave gecko – Splendens (Goniurosaurus splendens) – Expert

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Cave gecko – Cat Ba (Goniurosaurus catbaensis) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (60×45×50 cm), substrate (Coco humus, limestone structures with crevices, leaf litter, a damp corner), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.